Research Pays Off - Railroad Flatcars for Low-Volume Bridges: Iowa Counties Adopt Low-Cost Structures
To provide Iowa county engineers with low-cost bridges, the Bridge Engineering Center at Iowa State University investigated the feasibility of using railroad flatcars as the superstructure for bridges on low-volume roads. Several characteristics make flatcars desirable for bridge superstructures: flatcars are easy to install, can be used on current or new abutments, are available in various lengths, and are relatively inexpensive.
A feasibility study indicated that properly designed flatcar bridges are capable of supporting Iowa legal loads. Two flatcar demonstration bridges confirmed the constructability, adequacy, and relative economy of the concept. As a result of this research, the use of railroad flatcars has helped Iowa counties economically address particular transportation requirements. Counties can purchase railcars for a fraction of the cost of steel beams and decking materials.
Iowa’s Winnebago County constructed a 89-foot by 27-foot railroad flatcar bridge at a cost of less than $30 per square foot—a substantial savings from the nearly $70 per square foot for a standard concrete slab bridge in Iowa.
The savings for the six flatcar bridges constructed to date in Iowa exceed the cost of the research.
This Summary Last Modified On: 6/27/2012